Canada
Le caucus libéral du Québec demande la démission de Justin Trudeau, dit une députée
En réponse aux questions de Radio-Canada, le président du caucus, Stéphane Lauzon, a précisé qu'« aucune lettre n'a été remise au premier ministre provenant du caucus du Québec » Les députés libéraux du Québec doivent se réunir en caucus le 9 janvier.
The Defeat of Stephen Harper: A Case Study in Social Movement Electoralism
This article aims to identify the key electoral dynamics of the 2015 federal election in Canada, an election which ended 10 years of Conservative rule and propelled the Liberals to office, under new leader Justin Trudeau. It suggests, building on the work of Rosa Luxemburg, that social movement electoralism—motivated by a strong anti-Tory sentiment—best captures the phenomenon of millions of new voters arriving at the ballot box. Using comparative data at a national, regional, and riding level, the article posits that the 2015 election witnessed an unprecedented increase in voter turnout, an increase that disproportionately benefitted the Liberals. Activist-driven strategic voting can only account for a small proportion of this turn to the Liberals, and the article introduces a Hypothetical Strategic Voting Test to make this point. The social movement electoralism framework has implications not just for our understanding of this and future elections, but for our understanding of the nature of contemporary democracy itself. This article was published in 2019 but re-reading it this holiday season with an eye towards how we might frame the next general election, which seems almost certain to be a different kind of "social movement electoralism" that will also, like 2015, feature many first-time voters.
Federal Government's Use of Technological Tools Capable of Extracting Personal Data from Mobile Devices and Computers
The 13th Report of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics. Published in October but I'm just catching up to this now.
The Provinces
Why Premier Danielle Smith agrees with Trump on border woes
In a year-end interview, Smith also says she's restructuring Alberta Health Services in an effort to keep people who don't need urgent care out of hospitals.
Populism, freedom, and democracy in Alberta (and beyond)
Jared Wesley: How could a party born out of a grassroots democracy movement stray so far from its promise? How could a party calling itself "conservative" move to undermine individual rights? How could a populist party that claims to prioritize "the people" seek to consolidate so much power in the premier’s office? How could a libertarian premier oversee the most obtrusive state aparatus in a generation? Here's your long New Year's Day #cdnpol read!
Fundy Albert mayor resigns after 'turbulent' two years
The former mayor stated the province did not offer much assistance to navigate the municipality through the period of reform, such as how to structure the new municipal government, manage the budget, and address infrastructure gaps. “In the end we were left to our own devices with little or no assistance, or guidance from provincial government,” he wrote, noting the experience had also been difficult on council, staff, and residents.
Elsewhere
Joy and Apprehension in Syria
Ursula Lindsey: European countries have rushed with unseemly speed to suspend asylum applications for Syrians; right-wing governments and politicians have already begun clamoring for deportations. Yet clearly what the international community should be focusing on is lifting the sanctions on Syria, cautiously engaging with the new powers there, and supporting the country’s reconstruction. Most Syrian refugees are in neighboring countries in the region—three million in Turkey, almost a million in Lebanon, and more than a million in Jordan. Their circumstances and their legal status vary widely; some have rebuilt lives for themselves that they are understandably reluctant to abandon, while others have found it extremely difficult to integrate and find opportunities.
Media
How comedian Mark Critch landed the only year-end interview with Justin Trudeau
The Canadian comedian and This Hour Has 22 Minutes cast member sat down with the prime minister just before Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister earlier this month, sending shockwaves through Ottawa. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) cancelled all of Trudeau's previously scheduled year-end interviews with at least seven media outlets shortly after.
My #1 New Year's Resolution: Dump Twitter, Embrace Bluesky | PCMag
Jordan Minor: I'm quitting Twitter in 2025, and you should, too. Join me in jumping over to the platform that brings fun back to social media. *Reminder: I'm maintaining my Twitter account but you'll have to ask to follow but I'm definitely [an active BlueSky user(https://bsky.app/profile/davidakin.bsky.social).
Science and tech
Happy Birthday, Celsius! Canada’s use of metric system turning 50
Environment Canada's use of Celsius turns 50 years old in 2025. It was the catalyst of a lengthy national metric conversion that abruptly ended a decade after it began.
Digital Hygiene: A Guide to Protecting Yourself Online
Derek Bowler: This guide delves into essential practices for maintaining your online security and privacy in an age of increasing digital threats. By focusing on password management and multi-factor authentication (MFA) this first part aims to equip users with the foundational knowledge needed to safeguard their personal information and enhance their overall digital resilience.
Hiya Deepfake Voice Detector
Detect if a voice in a video or audio played in a Chrome tab is real or AI-generated. Haven't yet used this but it was recommended by Craig Silverman in his end-of-year Digital Investigations newsletter. Filed away as a potential tool for the day I'm confronted with audio that seems to odd to be real.
